Layout board for use in the graphic arts



March 3, 1964 R. E. BLODGETT ETAI. 3,122,835

LAYOUT BOARD FOR USE IN THE GRAPHIC ARTS Filed July l2. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l .AN NN QN Nm.

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LAYOUT BOARD FOR USE 1N THE GRAPHIC ARTS Filed July l2, 1961 2 SheelZS--Sheei'l 2 F/G. 7 Fr/c. 6

o o L7 .1Q/@HARD t 51006577 NVE/V70 Eo s. BLODGETT United States Patent O 3 122,835 LAYUT BARB FRUSE iN Glfalllll ARTS Richard E. Blotlgett and Leo S. Elodgett, both of lielmesbroolr Road, Ridge, NJ. Filed luly 12, 1961, Ser. No. @3,539 7 Claims. {@l. S33-8d) The present invention has reference to a fixture or layout board which is well adapted for use in the graphic arts for setting dummy forms for photo-otset reproduction of edito ial, advertising layout and the like.

The present invention is related to a co-pending patent application filed lanuary 18, 1961, in the names of Blodgett, Richard E., and Blodgett, Leo S., Serial No. 83,428 now Patent No. 3,065,547. In that co-pending patent application a layout board is disclosed for use in the alignment of paper clippings bearing written and graphic subject matters with reference to each other and with reference to the edges of a backing paper sheet placed on the base of the layout board, and with reference to guiding elements forming parts of the board in co-operation With movable straight edges formed with shoe-like portions at their ends for guiding such straight edges in their sliding movement between guiding elements forming parts of the board.

While layout boards constructed according to the disclosure of the patent pending application above mentioned have been found in actual use to he entirely satisfactory for the handling of small size paper clippings on correspondingly small size backing sheets, attempts to construct enlarged layout boards of the type above mentioned did not meet with entire success since such layout boards have not been found to be adaptable in the handling of large backing paper sheets and relatively large paper clippings because of the necessity of using correspondingly long straight edges and their inconvenience in their manipulation along the guiding elements forming parts of the layout board.

The present invention contemplates an improved lai out board of relatively large dimension for use in combination with an improved straight edge, which straight edge may be conveniently moved between guiding elements comprised in the frame of an improved layout board in accurate position along such guiding elements by the provision of a novel arrangement in which means in the form of roller members carried by spring pressed plunger members tted into the ends ot the straight edge, serve to maintain the latter in accurate angular relation to the guiding elements of the layout board and the paper clamped onto the backing sheet, the guiding elements having line marlts cooperating with an index formed with one of the roller supports in the straight edge for indicating the position of the latter at any point along the paper backing sheet in a clipping positioning operation, a plurality of manually operable means in the form of angularly disposed rotatable shafts supported by elements of the frame serve for actuating a clamping mechanism in which a pivoted angle bar is held in the operated position by a plurality of spring actuated plunger members, the angle bar being actuated by the operation of any one of two rotatable shafts selectively, for releasing the paper backing sheet for removal of the latter from the base of the layout board following the completion or a paper clipping positioning operation.

Ot JLer novel features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and by the claims appended thereto, reference being had to the several views of the drawing in which:

FIG. l is a plan view of the layout board of the invention showing the mechanism for manually actuating the paper backing sheet clamping bar from two adjacent sides of the board;

ICE

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the board taken on line 2-2 of FIG. l, looldng in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3 3 of FIG. l showing the spring pressed plunger member serving for holding the backing paper sheet clamped onto the base of the board;

FlG. 4 is a plan View of the straight edge used in combination with the layout board of the invention showing roller members at the ends of the straight edge for facilitating the movement of the latter along guiding elements forming parts of the layout board;

FlG. 5 is a longitudinal side view of the straight edge shown in FIG. 4 showing the roller members at the ends of the straight edge in contacting relation with the guiding elements of the board, and the pivot of the roller in contacting relation with the base of the board, the latter being indicated in phantom lines;

FlG. 6 is an end view of the straight edge showing the normal position of the latter relative to the base of the layout board; and

FlG. 7 is a plan view of the layout hoard showing the straight edges used in combination therewith in position between the guiding paper clamping bar and elements of the board.

As shown in FIG. 1, the layout board of the present invention consists of a rectangularly-shaped base 1li which may be constructed of a sheet of plywood, metallic magnesium, aluminum, or any other similar light density material, on which rests a plastic sheet il. The hase lil and the plastic sheet i1 thereon are secured at their peripheries to a frame consisting of wood molding strips 12, l, i4 and 1S, and the reinforcing hatten pieces :ley and 1731 held to the under side surface of base 1@ by a plurality of wood screws SW, and to the frame thus formed is secured at tie periphery thereof another metallic frame consisting of aluminum angle bars i6, 17, 18 and 19, welded at the corners thereof and secured onto the wood frame by a plurality of similar screws 2li extending through clearance holes into the plastic sheet 11 and the plywood base l@ in threaded engagement with the molding strips 12, 113, lli and 15 forming the frame of the layout board, as shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3.

The metallic angle bar 17 is provided at its top disposed surface with a number of equally spaced V-shaped recesses 21, FIG. 3, along its length registering with similar recesses 22 in an angle metallic bar Z3, these recesses cooperating with each other to form bearing elements for similar spindles Zd to serve for pivoting the angle bar 23 onto the angle bar 17 of the frame to perform a function which will be hereafter described in detail.

The angle bars 17 and 23 are provided at similar equal distance therealong with registering drilled holes 25' and 26, in turn disposed 'm registry with similar drilled holes along the edge portion of plastic sheet 11, the edge of plywood base 1l) and into the molding 15 of the frame, the molding l5 having bores 27 in which are fitted metallic bushings 2S, each provided for receiving a coiled spring 2? having one end bearing against the bushing and its other end against a cylindrical nut 32 fitted at the end of a screw 3l, the head of which bears against the top surface of angle bar 23 for holding the latter and a paper baclring sheet as Z4 tight onto the plastic sheet il by the tension of springs 29.

The angle piece 23, as shown in FGS. l and 3, is provided with a cam element 33 co-operating with a complement cam element 34 formed with a knob 35 for imparting a pivotal movement to the angle bar 23 on spindles 24 for releasing the paper sheet 24 which may be held onto the base of the board by the collective tension of springs 29. The knob cam unit 35i-35 is keyed to one n end of a shaft 36 supported at one end in a earmg aperture in the angle bar 17 and its other end into a bushing 37, FIG. 3, itted into the side A, FlG. 3, of a wooden trarne 38, and onto this end of shaft 36 is keyed an angle gear Sil which meshes with a similar gear ill keyed onto one end of a shaft 41, this shaft being supported at this end in the side B of wooden frame 3S and its other end into a bearing aperture in the molding 14 of the frame and into a drilled holeA in the angle bar 18, While a knob 42 is keyed to the shaft 41 for rotating the latter and thereby the shaft 36 and cam 34 for actuating the clamping bar 23 against the tension of springs 29 as for releasing the paper backing sheet 24' which may have been clamped onto the surface of the board.

The clamping bar 23 is formed with a rim 43 provided with a beveled edge for facilitating the placing of the backing paper sheet in position on the surface ot the board while forming an ellicient gripping edge tor tirmly holding the backing sheet on the base, as when moving the straight edge ST, FIGS. 4 and 7, either lengthwise or transverse of the bom-d.

lt is to be noted that the edge of angle bar 19 and the rim 43 oi' clamping bar 23 are parallel to each other, While the edge of angle bar 16 is in parallel relation with the angle bar 1S for the accurate positioning of a straight edge for movement either lengthwise or transverse of the board.

The straight edge ST which may be dilerent length as determined by the sides of the layout board, consists, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, of an elongated strip of transparent material beveled at both of its longitudinal sides, and each end of this bar is formed with an upwardly lengthwise boss ed having a knob-like portion 47 serving for gripping the straight edge by the fingers for moving it along the layout board. The boss 46 is formed with a longitudinal bore 4? and a drilled hole 49 for freely receiving a plunger member t! having a stem 51 of reduced diameter loosely litting the drilled hole 49, while this end of stem 51 is screw-threaded for receiving a nut 52 serving as a stop for limiting the movement of plunger member Si) against the tension of a compression spring 53, as when the straight edge is removed from the layout board.

To the end of each plunger member 56 is secured, as by welding, the upward extending lug 54 formed with similar yoke-shaped members 55 and 56 to the arms of which are mounted similar rollers 57 and 53 for engaging the guiding elements formed by the angle bar 19 and clamping bar 23 by the tension of springs 53 for movement of the straight edge ST along the length of the board, while the angle bars 16 and 18, which are parallel to each other and at right angles to the bar 19 and to clamping bar Z3, serve for guiding the shorter straight edge ST1, indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 7, in direction transverse of the board, the engagement of the rollers 57--58 in addition to facilitate the movement of the straight edge between the guiding elements l--l and 19-23, has been found to effectively position the straight edges at right angles to the guiding elements at any point along the board.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, the yoke member 56 is formed with an index l co-operating with line marks as 62 printed on the angle bars 16 and l@ for indicating the position of the clippings over the paper backing sheet clamped onto the layout board, the straight edge as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 being supported by the heads of rivets 59 and 6l), a small distance above the paper backing sheet and that of the paper clippings thereover so as to prevent damaging the latter upon the movement of the straight edge along and transverse oi the board.

What we claim is:

1. A layout board comprising a rectangularly-shaped frame, a base secured to said frame adapted to receive a paper backing sheet, a clamping mechanism for securing tasse the backlitV7 sheet onto said base, said mechanism comprising an angle bar disposed parallelly and in superposed relation on one element of said rectangularly-shaped frame, said angle bar having a plurality of `v-shaped grooves disposed in spaced relation to each other along said bar, said frame element having a plurality of V- shaped grooves registering with the grooves in said bar, a spindle litted in the space formed by each pair of registering grooves for pivoting said bar, a plurality of coiled springs dtted in bores formed in one or the side elements forming said rectangularly-shaped frame, plunger members extending through said frame element and said angle bar acted upon by the tension of said springs for holding the latter in engagement with the paper backing sheet onto said base.

2. A layout board comprising a rectangularly-shaped wood frame, a base secured to said trame for receiving a paper backing sheet, a metallic frame consisting of angle bars securely itted around said wood frame, one or" said bars in said metallic frame having grooves along the length thereof, another metallic bar'disposed in superposed relation over the rst mentioned bar having a number ot grooves corresponding to the number of grooves in the iirst mentioned bar disposed in registering relation therewith to form bearing elements, a spindle fitted in each of said bearing elements for rotation of said other bar on said spindles, a plurality of springs fitted in bores formed in one of the side elements of said wood frame plunger members acted upon by the tension of said spring for normally pressing one edge of said other bar against said base, a camming mechanism, and a plurality of manually operable means for actuating said camming mechanism tor imparting a turning movement to said other bar against the tension or" said springs for inserting and releasing the paper backing sheet from said base.

3. A layout board for use in combination lith a straight edge, said layout board comprising an angularly-y shaped wood frame, a plywood base secured to said frame serving for receiving a paper backing sheet, a metallic frame constructed of angle bars fitted over said wood frame, one or said angle bars forming one or a pair of guiding members for said straight edge, a clamping bar for the paper bac zing sheet forming the other guiding member in said pair pivoted on one angle bar Vof said metallic frame, a cam carried by said clamping bar, a plurality of coiled springs, one element of said wood frame having a plurality of bores therein serving for housing said coiled springs, plunger members acted upon by the pivotal movement of said clamping bar for securing the paper backing sheet onto said base, a plurality of shafts, a cam carried by one of said shafts, and manually operable means for rotating said shafts for engaging the cam carried by one of said shafts with the cam carried by said clamping bar to cause the pivotal movement of the latter against said spring pressed plunger members for releasing the paper backing sheet for removal of the latter from said base.

4. A layout board comprising a rectangularly-shaped Wood frame, a base secured to said frame serving for receiving a paper backing sheet, another frame constructed ot angle-shaped metallic bars fitted over said wood frame, a clamping device for the paper backing sheet pivotally mounted on one of said metallic bars, a plurality of spring pressed members normally acting on said clamping device for securing the paper sheet in adjusted position onto said base, a plurality of rotatable shafts mounted in position at right angle to each other on said wood frame, a gearing mechanism operatively connecting said shafts, a camming mechanism actuated by the rotation of either one of said shafts for actuating said clamping device against the tension of said spring pressed members for releasing thev paper backing sheet from said base, and manually operable means for actuating said shafts.

5. A layout board for use in combination with a straight edge, the layout board comprising a rectangularlyshaped frame, a base secured to said frame, another frame constructed of metallic angle bars tted over the rst mentioned frame, the inner disposed edge of one of said angle bars forming one of a pair of guiding elements, another angle bar mounted for pivotal movement over the metallic angle bar in said frame which is parallel to the last mentioned angle bar to form the other of said guiding elements in said pair and movable for holding and releasing a paper backing sheet from said base, a straight edge iitted for sliding movement between said guiding elements, and spring pressed roller members carried by said straight edge at both ends thereof for engaging said guiding elements with a springing action for positioning said straight edge at right angles to said guiding elements upon the movement of said straight edge over the paper backing sheet.

6. A straight edge for use in combination with a layout board, said layout board consisting of a frame having parallelly disposed angle bars serving for guiding said straight edge, another bar pivoted on said frame for clamping a paper backing sheet placed on said layout board, said straight edge consisting of a strip of transparent material, a boss portion formed at each end of said strip having a bore formed in each of said boss portions, a plunger member tted in each of the bores in said boss portions, a yoke-shaped member carried by each of said plunger members, a pair of rollers carried by each of said yoke-shaped members, said roller members having their pivotal centers disposed at right angles to the length of said straight edge, spring means in each of said bores acting on said plunger members for engaging said rollers under a predetermined pressure contact against the parallelly disposed guiding bars of said frame upon the movement of the straight edge therealong.

7. A layout board comprising a Wood frame, a base secured to said frame, molding strips secured to said frame for reinforcing said base, another frame constructed of angle bars of metallic material welded at their ends and securely tted over the iirst mentioned frame, the inner disposed edge of one of said angle bars forming one of a pair of guiding elements, a clamping angle bar of metallic material having V-shaped grooves disposed to the under side thereof at substantially equal spaced distance to each other, one of said angle bars in said frame having V-shaped grooves co-operating with the V-shaped grooves formed in said clamping bar to form bearing elements, spindle members positioned in said bearing elements for pivoting said clamping bar, a plurality of springs iitted in bores formed in one or the elements of said Wood frame, plunger members having means engaging said clamping bar and acted upon by the tension of said springs to cause said clamping bar to normally hold a backing paper sheet placed onto said base in adjusted position relative to said guiding elements, the inner disposed edge of said clamping bar forming the other of said guiding elements in said pair, and a straight edge having roller members at both ends thereof engaging said guiding elements for facilitating the movement of said straight edge along said guiding elements over the paper backing sheet, a cam carried by said clamping bar, and a plurality of manually operable means disposed at two adjacent sides of said frame for actuating said cam for imparting a pivotal movement to said clamping bar against the tension of said springs for releasing the paper backing sheet from said base.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 429,203 Sajous June 3, 1890 565,433 Cochrane Aug. 11, 1896 975,956 Iwanami Nov. 15, 1910 1,977,213 Slobey Oct. 16, 1934 2,399,610 West et al. Apr. 30, 1946 

1. A LAYOUT BOARD COMPRISING A RECTANGULARLY-SHAPED FRAME, A BASE SECURED TO SAID FRAME ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A PAPER BACKING SHEET, A CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR SECURING THE BACKING SHEET ONTO SAID BASE, SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING AN ANGLE BAR DISPOSED PARALLELLY AND IN SUPERPOSED RELATION ON ONE ELEMENT OF SAID RECTANGULARLY-SHAPED FRAME, SAID ANGLE BAR HAVING A PLURALITY OF V-SHAPED GROOVES DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER ALONG SAID BAR, SAID FRAME ELEMENT HAVING A PLURALITY OF VSHAPED GROOVES REGISTERING WITH THE GROOVES IN SAID BAR, A SPINDLE FITTED IN THE SPACE FORMED BY EACH PAIR OF REGISTERING GROOVES FOR PIVOTING SAID BAR, A PLURALITY OF COILED SPRINGS FITTED IN BORES FORMED IN ONE OF THE SIDE ELEMENTS FORMING SAID RECTANGULARLY-SHAPED FRAME, PLUNGER MEMBERS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID FRAME ELEMENT AND SAID ANGLE BAR ACTED UPON BY THE TENSION OF SAID SPRINGS FOR HOLDING THE LATTER IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PAPER BACKING SHEET ONTO SAID BASE. 